Sweatband and sun protective headgear apparatus

ABSTRACT

A headgear ( 10 ) has a sweatband ( 12 ) has a sheet material ( 18 ) attached thereto for extending over a person&#39;s head and down the back of a person&#39;s neck.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field of this invention relates to sun shielding headgear and protective headgear.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Headgear has long incorporated a front bill or sun visor to protect the eyes from glare of the sun. Other headgear also has often incorporated drape material to protect the top of the head and the back of the neck from the sun. There are also many protective helmets for use in sports which protect the head against concussion or bruising.

What is needed is a headgear device which incorporates a sweatband and sun protecting drape material. What is also needed is a headgear apparatus that also has a see-through mesh sheet for protecting the face from bugs. Furthermore, what is needed is a sweatband that can mount a protective helmet. What is also needed is a lightweight protective comfortable helmet.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a headgear apparatus includes a sweatband having a non-stretchable strip connected to the sweatband and sized to be able to fit about a person's head. A first sheet of flexible material has its distal end section extending rearward from the sweatband to be able to cover the person's head and able to form a neck drape down over a neck of the person.

The sheet is preferably a porous moisture absorbent material, and preferably a fabric. The sheet preferably has its distal end section with a complementary fastener near left and right sides thereof to draw the sides of the distal end section together. Preferably, the sheet has a pocket incorporated therein.

In one embodiment, the sheet is connected at its front edge thereof to a shade bill extending forwardly at a front portion of the shade bill. The shade bill is desirably integrally formed out of the sweatband being folded onto itself to form two layers and passing through a clasp ring at each side of the shade bill. The sheet is positioned and sewn to the shade bill in between the two layers such that the headgear apparatus is reversibly constructed by flipping the shade bill and sweatband upside down.

Preferably, each side of the sheet has a different color or pattern. In one embodiment, the sweatband has distal rear ends with complementary fasteners to adjustably fasten the sweatband about the person's head.

In one embodiment, a second sheet of porous see-through mesh material has a side mounting edge attached to a side edging the first sheet. The second sheet is movable between a used position draping about the face of the person or in a stored position lying against the first sheet. A distal edge of the second sheet has fasteners to connect to fasteners at an opposite edge of said first sheet.

In one embodiment, a resilient cushion material, preferably a rod of open cell foam material, is positioned in the sweatband. In one embodiment, the sweatband has a first set of helmet fasteners circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery thereof. A soft outer protective helmet has an interior surface shaped to receive an upper portion of the person's head. The interior surface of the helmet has a second set of complementary helmet fasteners for selective securement to the first set of helmet fasteners such that that sweatband may be worn with or without the helmet engaged thereto. In one embodiment, the helmet is made from rod like cushion elements made from a soft open cell foam material.

According to another aspect of the invention, a headgear apparatus has a soft outer protective helmet with an interior surface shaped to receive an upper portion of a person's head. The interior surface of the helmet has a fastener device attached thereto. A sweatband for placement about the head of the person has at its outer surface a complementary fastener device for securement to the fastener device on the helmet for selective engagement and disengagement of the sweatband to the helmet such that the sweatband may be worn by the person with or without the helmet. Preferably, the fastener device and complementary fastener device are hook and loop fasteners.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention worn on a person's head;

FIG. 2 is side perspective view of the headgear shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged partially segmented view showing the transition portion of the sweatband and the sun visor section;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention with a see-through mesh sheet deployed;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 6-6 shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7-7 shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is side elevational and exploded view of a fourth embodiment with optional loop fasteners circumferentially spaced about the outer side of the sweatband for attachment to a protective helmet having complementary hook fasteners adhered to an inside surface thereof; and

FIG. 11 is a view of a modified helmet engaged onto the sweatband.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a headgear apparatus 10 has a sweatband 12 wrapped and fastened about a person's head 14. The sweatband 12 has a front bill section 16 to be worn over the eyes of the person to shield the eyes from the sun. The sweatband 12 is preferably made from porous and absorbent material for example terry cloth or an elastic blend with terry cloth. A sheet 18 of porous and absorbent material, for example cotton fabric, extends from the bill and can extend over the head 14 and drape down the person's neck 20.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the sweatband has two distal ends 22 that each has complementary fasteners 23 and 24 such as hook and loop fasteners which can adjustably fasten to comfortably accommodate different sized heads 14. The sheet 18 has a pocket 26 formed near the rear end oriented to have an upward facing opening 28. The pocket 26 may have an optional closure flap, snaps or zipper 29 to retain items therein. A distal side section 30 of the sheet 18 may have a strap 32 with a fastener thereon 34 that can be secured to a complementary fastener 36 or 38 near opposite each side section 30 to draw the sides 30 together.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the sweatband 12 has a transition section 42 with a secured ring or clasp member 44 which transitions the sweatband from an unfolded rear section to the folded front bill section 16 having two layers, an upper layer 46 and lower layer 48. The bill section 16 is formed by doubling of the sweatband material and stitching of the two layers 46 and 48 together. The sheet 18 has its front edge 50 also extending between the two layers 46 and 48 of the sweatband forming the bill 16 such that a single stitching seam 52 both forms the bill and secures the sheet 18 to the sweatband. The ring clasps 44 are placed and secured about the sweatband 12 at the transition section to help reinforce the formation of the bill and prevent undue stress on the seam 52.

The headgear is very adaptable and the sheet 18 can be rolled up and fastened by strap 32 when not needed over the neck. Furthermore, the draped sheet 18 may be unfurled to cover the entire back of the neck as shown in FIG. 1 or if desired be used to entrap long hair into a ponytail by use of strap 32 fastened to fastener 36 or 38 as shown in FIG. 4 for drawing the side sections 30 together.

FIGS. 4-7 show a second embodiment according to the invention. In this embodiment, the headgear apparatus 10 has the sweatband 12 extend completely about the head. The interior of the sweatband as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has a plastic net substrate 17 that resists stretching when the fabric sheet 18 becomes wet. The plastic is stitched near one edge to the fabric as shown at 19. Horizontal stitching 21 attach the fastener 23 to the sweatband 12. Similar construction also attaches fastener 24. The sweatband 12 is structured such that the fabric sheet 18 is interposed between the sweatband 12 and the person's forehead such that no stitching abuts the person's forehead for added comfort as clearly shown in FIG. 7. Vertically extending stitching 170 is spaced along sweatband 12 such that the sweatband can be adjustably cut down to a smaller size. The sheet 18 may also have a plurality of spaced seams 180 such that the sheet 18 may be optionally shortened to smaller or shorter sizes by cutting along adjacent the seam 180. An optional second sheet 56 made from a see-through mesh type material, for example mosquito netting, can also be sewn into side edge 152 and be used to extend around and in front of the person's face 53 to protect against bugs and insects. The distal edge 153 of the mesh sheet 56 can have Velco patches 154 to fasten to complementary Velcro patches 155 near the opposite edge 56 of sheet 18 to retain the mesh in place. When unused, the mesh 56 can be flipped over to rest against the back of the distal edge 153 of and adjacent the first sheet 18 behind the head using the same Velcro patches 154 and 155 to retain the mesh in place.

A third embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the headgear has an internal protective resilient and deformable padding member 250 placed in the sweatband section 12 to protect the forehead from certain high impacts due to head butting that may occur during sports for example boxing, soccer, basketball and volleyball. The member 250 may be made from tubular stock of low density polyurethane or other resilient deformable material.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, two protected double sided helmets 60 and 160 are shown. The helmet 60 can be a soft shell helmet which can be made from, for example, a condensed foam rubber or the same material as padding member 250. The helmet is shaped with a cavity 70 and inner surface 72 to receive an upper portion of the person's head 14. The inner surface 72 has a plurality of hook type fasteners 62 properly positioned to engage a series of loop type fasteners 64 circumferentially spaced about the outer side 66 of the sweatband. The helmet may be shaped such that the rear portion 68 extends low enough to protect the occipital bone 73 of the head 14. The inner surface may also be lined with a rubber or foam mesh 74 to further cushion the head 14 and provide air circulation for increased comfort. The front lower edge 75 of the helmet 60 may rest on top of padded member 250 when fully engaged to the sweatband 12. The helmet 160 shown in FIG. 11 can be made from the same tubular material as protective padding member 250 but contoured, shaped and secured to the illustrated shape.

As shown, the sweatband 12 may be used with or without the helmets 60, 160 for increased adaptability. The helmets 60 and 160 can be selectively engaged to the sweatband or detached therefrom by disengaging the fasteners 62 from fasteners 64. Conventional straps (not shown) may also be used to connect under the chin.

As can be visually seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the headgear 10 may be reversible by merely flipping over the sweatband 12. Furthermore, each side of the sheet 18 may have a different color or have a different decorative pattern printed thereon or woven therein to further increase adjustability.

Other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A headgear apparatus comprising: a sweatband having a an internal non-stretchable strip connected to the sweatband sized to be able to fit about a person's head; and a first sheet extending rearward from the sweatband having its distal end section extending over to cover said person's head and to be able to neck drape down over a neck of said person.
 2. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said first sheet being made from porous moisture absorbent material; and said first sheet having its distal end section with a complementary fastener near left and right sides thereof to draw the sides of the distal end section together.
 3. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising: said first sheet having a pocket incorporated therein.
 4. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said sweatband having distal rear ends with complementary fasteners to adjustably fasten the sweatband about said person's head.
 5. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said first sheet connected at its front edge thereof to a shade bill extending forwardly at a front position of said sweatband.
 6. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said shade bill being integrally formed out of said sweatband being folded onto itself to form two layers and passing through a clasp ring at each side of said shade bill.
 7. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising: said first sheet positioned between said layers and sewn to the shade bill such that said headgear apparatus is reversibly constructed by flipping said shade bill and sweatband upside down.
 8. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising: each side of said sheet having a different color or pattern.
 9. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a second sheet of porous see-through mesh material having a side mounting edge attached to or a side edge in proximity to said first sheet; and said second sheet movable between a used position draping about the face of the person or in a stored position lying against said first sheet; a distal edge of said second sheet having fastener that engage fastener on an opposite side of said first sheet.
 10. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said sweatband having a resilient cushion material positioned therein to be positioned against a forehead of a person.
 11. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising: said sweatband having a first set of helmet fasteners circumferentially spaced about an outer periphery thereof; and a soft outer protective helmet having an interior surface shaped to receive an upper portion of said person's head; and said interior surface of said helmet having a second set of complementary helmet fasteners for selective securement to said first set of helmet fasteners such that said sweatband may be worn with or without said helmet attached thereto.
 12. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising: said soft outer protective helmet made from resilient foam rod secured together in the shape of a helmet.
 13. A headgear apparatus comprising: a soft outer protective helmet having an interior surface shaped to receive an upper portion of a person's head; said interior surface of said helmet having first fastener device attached thereto; and a sweatband for placement about said person's head and having at its outer surface a complementary second fastener device for securement to said first fastener device on said helmet for selective engagement and disengagement of the sweatband to the helmet such that said sweatband may be worn by said person with or without said helmet attached thereto.
 14. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 11 further comprising: said first and second fastener devices being hook and loop fasteners.
 15. A headgear apparatus as defined in claim 14 further comprising: a sheet of material attached to the sweatband for draping over the head of a person and to drape down over a neck of said person. 